PATTERNS AND

REGULARITIES

Reference: Mathematics in the modern world by w. s. sirug 2018

SYMMETRY
➢A sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion of
balance or an object is invariant to any of various
transformations (reflection, rotation or scaling).
➢Among non-living things, snowflakes have six-fold
symmetry; each flake’s structure forms a record of
the varying conditions during its crystallization, with
nearly same pattern of growth on each of its six
arms.
Reference: Mathematics in the Modern World by W.S.Sirug 2018
SYMMETRY
➢Two main types: Bilateral and Radial
➢Bilateral symmetry – the left and right sides of the
organism can be divided into approximately mirror
image of each other along the midline.
➢Radial symmetry or rotational symmetry – a type
of symmetry around a fixed point known as the
center and it can be classified as either cyclic or
dihedral.
Reference: Mathematics in the Modern World by W.S.Sirug 2018
 EXAMPLES: SYMMETRY

https://undergroundmathematics.org/thinking-about-geometry/symmetry

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Bilateral-symmetry-in-nature-4_fig1_237838275 https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-sea-stars-2291865 https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sunda-tiger

FRACTALS
➢A curve or geometric figure, each part of which has the
same statistical character as the whole.
➢One of the newest and most exciting branches of
mathematics.
➢A class of highly irregular shapes that are related to
continents, coastlines, and snowflakes.
➢Useful in modeling structures in which similar patterns recur
at progressively smaller scales, and in describing partly
random or chaotic phenomena such as crystal growth, fluid
turbulence, and galaxy formation.

Reference: Mathematics in the Modern World by W.S.Sirug 2018

EXAMPLES: FRACTALS

https://news.globallandscapesforum.org/43195/fractals-nature-almost-all-things/
https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-are-fractals-10865

https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/fractals-in-nature
 SPIRALS
➢Logarithmic spiral (growth spiral) – a self-similar spiral curve which
often appears in nature.
➢More evident in plants.
➢We also see spirals in typhoon, whirlpool, galaxy, tail of chameleon,
and shell among others.

https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/how-do-we-know-the-milky-way-is-a-spiral-galaxy/

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/85630/typhoon-maysak-from-the-space-station

Reference: Mathematics in the Modern World by W.S.Sirug 2018

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/128563764343358378/